One man against a corrupt system: Netflix has released the thriller "Rebel Ridge," which has already become a global hit

It's not often that Netflix releases films that not only gain popularity among viewers but also win critical acclaim. However, on September 6, the crime action movie "Rebel Ridge" became available, and it managed to do just that.

OBOZ.UA tells about the movie in more detail. And also about why film experts praise it and why the audience fell in love with it.

The plot

A man named Terry Richmond arrives in the small town of Shelby Springs. His goal is to post bail for his cousin who is under arrest. But the police are clearly not cooperative. The officers not only refuse to accept the bail but also take Terry's money. They do not even realize that they have offended the former marine, who is now ready to restore justice and punish corrupt law enforcement at any cost.

The film was directed by Jeremy Saulnier, the director of the thriller Green Room and a member of the "True Detective." He also wrote the screenplay for the movie. The main roles are played by Aaron Pierre, Don Johnson, and AnnaSophia Robb.

Why you should watch "Rebel Ridge"

Immediately after its release, "Rebel Ridge" topped the Netflix Global Top 10 chart. In just one week, the crime thriller garnered over 31 million views.

Critics agree that, although the film is based on fairly standard genre techniques, it still offers a fresh and thoughtful look at the problem of corruption. In particular, thanks to the skillful performance of Aaron Pierre, who may become the new face of crime thrillers.

The director described his approach to making Rebel Ridge in a commentary to Screen Rant as follows: "The movie is not based on any specific incident, but certain elements of it could have really happened. I'm interested in studying corrupt systems – not so much how they are built, but how they persist. In this film, I would like to use how the rest of us react to such [corrupt] systems – from corrupt politicians to the endless cycle of false calls to customer support services."

The reviews indicate that Saulnier has succeeded in fulfilling his task. Corruption plays the role of a separate character in his film. The director successfully demonstrates how it penetrates deeply into social institutions, such as the police, and makes even perfectly moral people not ask unnecessary questions until a hero appears who cares.

Currently, some critics are predicting that "Rebel Ridge" could be the beginning of a new franchise for Netflix. The film is praised for its successful use of the best elements of classic action movies. At the same time, it manages to avoid excessive violence in the frame and at the same time keep the viewer in suspense.

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